Representation by Christopher Firby
- Date submitted
- 17 May 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Why I support the development of Byers Gill Solar As landowners involved in the Byers Gill Solar project, we obviously have a financial interest in the Solar Development being granted Development Consent. The coal mines came and went in the Durham Coalfield. We already have wind turbines visible from the farm in Brafferton and the Byers Gill area. Some would argue that we should be supportive of Nuclear energy. Who would wish a nuclear plant on anyone, and who wants to look after the waste? No one can say what will replace Solar in the advances which will come in the next 40 years. Solar will have had its time. We are supportive of Solar as a renewable energy source generally. It is an important part of energy production, much needed at this time. However, we believe that the farm land would be improved over the lifetime of the Solar Farm, to continue to support sustainable food production here in the longer term. Farming is a generational business. Forty to Fifty years is just one person’s working lifetime. We can and must consider planning for the next generations following on this land. The decision to be made is for now and the next few decades, only. Then land use will change again. The project would last for our son’s working life but would be unlikely to last through our grandchildren’s tenure. Changing our arable acres to good grass and legume mixes will be beneficial for wildlife and the soil structure. Less disturbance with machines is good, especially for the length of the project. It would be a real chance for nature recovery, for all creatures including the insect pollinators needed for all food production. The size of agricultural machinery is already making it extremely difficult to continue our arable farming. Access through the village is difficult when the road is lined with parked vehicles. The narrow lanes, some bounded by gardens, make it very difficult for autumn and harvest work. Should Byers Gill Solar be built on some of our land we would hope to continue farming our sheep and managing a grassland farm, surrounding the village. We believe renewables are important for Energy Security for everyone, not just for the few who can afford solar on their property. So many forms of housing are multiple occupancy, reliant on schemes like this to bring them similar energy benefits. Solar seems less damaging to the environment, when compared to the nuclear option, for example. It would certainly be less damaging for our community than a Bypass running close by, across local farms. That would be huge and permanent scar, negatively impacting productivity in our area, but so polluting, too. And we already have the polluting A1M Motorway, the A167 into Darlington, the mainline railway needing electricity and a waste management site, all within about 1 mile of Brafferton. We hope to play our small part in support of Local Authority and UK Government Strategies on Energy production and Security. That is why we support Byers Gill Solar to get Development Consent. Christopher Firby [REDACTED]